Fruit in Colombia: Plantains & Bananas

Bananas for sale at local market in Colombia

Plantains and bananas play an important role as fruit in Colombia. Yes, they are different. Plantains or Platanos as they call them in Colombia are much bigger than bananas. Bananas are smaller and sweeter. Plantains are bigger and are used both green (unripened) and yellow. When they are used green in their unripe state, they are firmer and have a more bitter taste. If they are yellow to brown, they are ripe and have a much sweeter flavor.

Bananas growing at Hacienda Guayabal outside of Chinchina, Colombia

Green plantains for sale

When I was in Armenia, Colombia, we were walking to the park one morning and came across this guy selling grilled plantains. As I walked by I could smell the sweet roasted smell and had to turn around to get one. I was so glad I did. They guy cut the the warm plantain down the middle and smothered it in butter. It was one of the best things I've ever eaten. The sweet taste of plantain in melted butter was like a dessert party in my mouth.  Definitely one of my favorite street foods in Colombia.

Preparing my Platano on streets of Armenia, Colombia

Grilled plantain, best ever.

Charred and sweetened to perfection

Grilled sweet plantain smothered in butter. Delicious!

When I was in Barranquilla, I was first introduced to Plantain chips on the streets. They are thinly sliced plantains fried to a crisp chip. They are slightly sweet and totally delicious and addicting. They were a frequent snack on the streets of Colombia.

Plantain chips on sale at the Barranquilla Carnaval Parade

Plantain chips at the Carnaval Parade... just waiting to be eaten.

Yum! Plantain chips, a delicious snack in Colombia

Green plantains are a staple of the Colombian diet, especially along the Caribbean coast where they are used to make Patacones. I even had one stuffed with chicken. The green plantains are less sweet and very firm. So firm that they used a double cooking technique to make them easier to eat. 

One day on the Island of Barú on Playa Blanca off the shore of Cartagena, we met a woman named Maria. This is your introduction to her, as I will be blogging about her more soon. Maria made us an amazing feast on the beach. She made us some fresh fish and fresh homemade patacones on the the beach. We enjoyed her delicious meal on the white sands looking out at the turquoise waters.

Green plantains, whole in the peel

Sliced green plantains ready to be cooked

First, slices of green plantains are fried in oil

Then the cooked slices are pressed flat in a hand press to form a patty

Maria fries the green plantains a second time

Maria prepares the fried fish and patacones for us to eat on the beach

Patacones (fried green plantains) served with fish